Cocktail dessert

In the waning days of summer, refresh with an adult dessert that's tres cool and low cal.

Jo Ann Kirby

In the waning days of summer, refresh with an adult dessert that's tres cool and low cal.

You'll just need a good flavored vodka, sorbet or sherbet, garnish of fruit or mint and rolled wafers.

This lime sherbet with vodka is a light go-to party recipe that impresses with its simple yet sophisticated presentation.

Prep ahead by scooping the lime sherbet - or sorbet - into chilled martini glasses or other unique glassware.

Pop them in the freezer until it's time to serve.

Garnish with mint or lime zest and two rolled wafer cookies such as Pepperidge Farms Pirouette French Vanilla rolled wafers.

Accompany each dessert with a shot of chilled vodka such as Absolut Citron and let your guests pour the vodka on when they are ready to dig into it.

Pouring the vodka on in advance will cause the alcohol to melt the dessert too quickly before it's even been served.

Hosting guests who don't imbibe? No worries. They can skip the shot and be served a fruit syrup instead.

For a different version, switch it up by using raspberry sorbet, a raspberry-infused vodka and garnish with fresh sugar-coated raspberries and the wafer cookies.

There are so many flavors of sorbets and sherbets that can be paired with matching infused vodkas that there is no reason to ever serve the same flavor of this treat closer more than once. The French call a lemon version Coupe Colonel.

Make it mini by serving in little shot glasses as a palate cleanser between courses. Or really go gourmet for dessert by crafting your own sorbet and infused vodka.